Plural completion of wells



Aug. 1, 1961 G. H. TAUSCH ET AL PLURAL COMPLETION OF WELLS I 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1958 FIG. 2.

FIG.

FIG. l0.

I III INVENTORS. GILBERT H. TAUSCH,

CHARLES B. CORLEY,JR., JOHN W. KENNEDAY,

Aug- 1, 19 G. H. TAUSCH ETAL PLURAL COMPLETION OF WELLS 4 Sheets-Sheet2' Filed May 5, 1958 INVENTORS.

R J H Y E TM UM A N T .N M E HBK \r S T Rm RN q BAH H HO GC Y B Aug. 1,1961 e. H. TAUSCH ETAL PLURAL COMPLETION OF WELLS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledMay 5, 1958 INVENTORS. GILBERT H. TAUSCH, CHARLES B. CORLEY,JR., JOHN W.KENNEDAY,

Aug. 1, 1961 Filed May 5, 1958 ZIO G. H. TAUSCH ET AL PLURAL COMPLETIQNOF WELLS FIG. 8-

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS. ILBERT H. TAUSCH,

OH W. KENNEDAY,

United States Patent ()fice Patented Aug. 1, 1961 2,994,380 'PLURAL CLETION OF WELLS Gilbert H. Tausch, Charles B. Corley, Jr., and John W.

Kenneday, Houston, Tex., assignors, by mesne assignments, to JerseyProduction Research Company, Tulsa,

Okla., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 5, 1958, Ser. No. 732,846 13Claims. (Cl. 166-191) The present invention is directed to apparatus andmethod for completing a well. More particularly, the invention isconcerned with well completion operations in a plurality of verticallyspaced apart hydrocarbon productive zones. In its more specific aspectsthe invention is concerned with completion and servicing of wells in aplurality of vertically spaced apart hydrocarbon productive zones inwhich fluid may flow simultaneously and separately through a pluralityof pipe strings in said well.

The present invention may be briefly described as apparatus forcompleting a well which comprises three eccentrically positioned pipestrings arranged in a well bore and extending substantially parallel insaid Well from the earths surface; first means connects the first of thepipe strings to the second of the pipe strings and provides a fluidpassageway between the first and second pipe strings and second meansspaced from the first connecting means connects the second of the pipestrings to a third of the pipe strings and provides a fluid passagewaybetween the second and third pipe strings. Third means spaced verticallyfrom the first and second means may be provided to interconnect thefirst and third pipe strings and provide a fluid passageway from thefirst to the third pipe string. Supporting means are provided in each ofthe pipe strings above the first and second connecting means or abovethe second and third connecting means. At least one retrievable conduitis sealingly positioned on a supporting means in one of the pipe stringswith the tubular conduit extending in said one pipe string below saidconnecting means. Means are arranged in said one pipe string to sealbetween the tubular conduit and said one pipe string below theconnecting means whereby fluid flow through each of the pipe strings isobtainable.

The present invention also involves a method for completing a wellpenetrating a plurality of productive subsurface earth strata whichcomprises arranging eccentrically in the well and extending from theearths surface three fluidly interconnected, substantially parallelpipes, the first pipe being fluidly interconnected with the second pipe,and the second pipe being fluidly interconnected with the third pipevertically spaced from the connection with the first pipe. The firstpipe is also fluidly connected with the third pipe vertically spacedfrom the connections between the first and second and second and thirdpipes. Each one of the pipes is then perforated in one of threehydrocarbon productive zones vertically spaced from each other.Thereafter, a retrievable open ended tubular conduit is lowered in thesecond of the pipe strings and is sealingly positioned above the fluidinterconnections with the other pipes to extend below the fluidinterconnections. The tubular conduit is then sealed in the second pipeabove and below the fluid interconnections and then hydrocarbons areseparately flowed from said three zones through said pipes.

The present invention is quite advantageous and useful in that by meansof the arrangement of apparatus, it is possible to complete, produce andservice a well without arranging tubing strings therein and allowing alloperations to be performed with wire line tools such as tubularconduits, perforators, and the like.

In the mode and embodiments of the Present invention, it is possible toproduce hydrocarbons, recomplete and service the well in the severalzones, treat the well, seal perforated zones in the several pipestrings, conduct well stimulating operations, acidize and conduct thenumeious treating operations which are performable in a we The presentinvention will be further illustrated by reference to the drawing inwhich:

FIG. 1a is a diagrammatic showing of a well equipped in the manner setforth herein for perforating;

FIGS. 1 to 4 are a stepwise illustration of the practice of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a further modification of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a still further modification of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a isometric view with parts cut away of a further embodimentof the invention.

In the several figures of the drawing, the illustration and showing areintended to be and are schematic.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIG. la, numeral 11designates a well bore drilled from the earths surface to penetrate aplurality of subsurface earth zones, horizons, strata, sands,formations, and the like, some of which may be productive ofhydrocarbons and others of which are non-productive. For purposes ofillustration only, it may be assumed that zones 12, 13 and 14 areproductive of hydrocarbons, while there may be other zones locatedbetween the several productive zones which are non-productive.

Arranged in the well bore 11 are three eccentrically positionedside-by-side parallel pipe strings 15, 16, and 17. The pipe strings 15,v16, and 17 of the embodiments of FIG. 1a, and FIGS. 1 to 4, aresubstantially coextensive and extend to the earths surface and terminatethere in a suitable well head not shown. The pipe strings 15, 16 and 17are each provided with a supporting means 18, 19 and 20 which suitablymay be a landing nipple and other means for supporting a tool in a pipestring. The first pipe string 15 is interconnected by connection means21 with the second pipe string .16 and the second pipe string 16 isinterconnected by connecting means 22 with the third pipe string 17. Theconnecting means 21 and 22 provide fluid passageways 23 and 24 for flowof fluid from one of the pipe strings to another of the pipe strings.

It may be seen that in the embodiments of FIG. 1a, and FIGS. 1 to 4, thethree pipe strings are cemented in the well bore 11 with cement 25.

In order to perforate the pipe string 15, a perforator 26 is suitablylowered on a wire line 27 to the region of the zone 14 and thereoperated to form perforations 28 in the zone :14. The perforator 26 maysuitably be a bullet or shaped charge perforator but may be a chemicalperforator or a mechanical perforator as may be desired.

In order to perforate the zones 12 and 13, a perforator is loweredthrough the pipe strings 17 and 16 to a position adjacent the zones 12and 13. Since the pipe strings .15, '16, and 17 are substantiallyco-extensive, means must be provided to avoid perforating the other pipestrings when the pipe strings :16 and 17 are being perforated. To thisend the pipe strings 16 and 17 may be provided with, respectively,indexing means 29 and 30 and guide rails 31 and 32 for positioning aparticular type of perforator or well tool on the guide rails 31 and 32.Suitably, a perforator 33, which may be one of the type as illustratedfor perforator 26, provided with track engaging means 33a, is lowered ona wire line 34 and positioned by indexing means 29 on the guide rail ortrack 31 and then operated adjacent the region or zone 13 to formperforations 34 into the formation 13. Likewise, to perforate the pipestring 17 a perforator 35, provided with track engaging means 35a, whichmay be similar to perforator 33, is lowered on wire line 36 to aposition adjacent the formation or zone 12 after being placed byindexing means 30 on track 32 and there operated to form perforations 37penetrating into the formation 01' zone 12.

Equipment including the guide means, track member, and the perforatorare described in U.S. Patent No, 2,- 781,098, issued to Walter J.Bielstein.

Thereafter, referring to FIG. 1, when production is desired from theseveral zones a tubular conduit 38 is lowered on one of the wire linessuch as has been illustrated and positioned in the second pipe string 16on the supporting means 19 and sealed thereinby means of sealing means39. The tubular conduit 38 is open ended and is sealed in the pipestring 16 with sealing means 40-positioned above the passageway 23 andbelow the passageway 24 with the sealing means 41 positioned below thepassageway 23, the tubular conduit extending to a position below theconnecting means 21 and 22. Thus, by means of the tubular conduit 38 andthe sealing means 40 and'41, flow may then be obtained through the threepipe strings 15, 16, and 17 from zones 14, 13, and 12,

V flow from zone 12 proceeding up pipe string 17, flow from zone 13proceeding up pipe string 16 through tubular conduit 38, while flow fromthe zone 14 is up the pipe string 15, the sealing means 40 and 41 andthe seal 39 on the upper end of the tubular conduit 38 closing thepassageways 23 and 24.

After production has been had from the three zones for. a particularlength of time, it may be necessary and desirable to work over the zone14. For example, this workover operation may involve sealing theperforations 28 with fluid cement or washing sand from the region of theperforations 28. For purpose of illustration only, a

fluid will be described as being flowed into the region of theperforations 28 and removed therefrom while production is continuedthrough the pipe string 17.

[n order to accomplish this series of operation, referring now to FIG. 2a tubular conduit 42 having a closed lower end 43 is lowered in the pipestring 16 and positioned on the supporting means 19 and sealed thereinwith sealing means 44; Spaced apart on the tubular conduit 42 aresealing means 45 and 46, which are positioned to seal above and belowthe passageway 23. that the tubular conduit 42 is provided with. alateral passageway 47 which fluidly communicates with the passageway 23.

A second tubular conduit 48 is then lowered in the pipe string 15 andpositioned on the supporting means 18 and sealed therein with sealingmeans 49. This tubular conduit 48 extends to the region of perforations28 and allowsflow therefrom or thereto. It is to be noted that the seals45 and 46 close the passageway 24 in conjunction with the seal 44. Thus,flow may be had upwardly or downwardly through pipe string 15 andthrough. tubular conduit 48 and through passageway 23 and through It isto be notedtubular conduit 42, flow proceeding in either direction asshown by the arrows, the closed lower end 43 closing oif production fromthe zone 13. Thus, it is possible to wash out the zone 14 or to positiona treating reagent therein or to conduct any operation as may bedesired. For example, if the perforations 28 are sealed with cement,excess fluid cement may be removed with a washing op eration andthereafter the zone 14 may be reperforated by lowering a gun perforatorsuch as described in FIG. 1a. If it is desired to work over the zone 13,an operation may be conducted as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Generally, this embodiment and mode are similar to the showing of FIG.2. In this particular operation, however, where the zone 13 is to bereworked or serviced, a tubular conduit suchas 42 having a closed lowerend 43 is positioned on the supporting means 18 in pipe strin'g'IS andsealed by means of sealing means44, the seal 45 being omitted but theseal 46 sealing below the passageway 23 connecting with the pipe string16. Asecond tubular conduit, in this instance tubular conduit 50, islowered in pipe string 16 and sealingly positioned on the supportingmeans 19 with the seal 51 closing 011 the space between the pipe string16 and the tubular conduit 50. The tubular conduit 50 is provided with asealing means 52, which seals the pipe string 16 below the passageway 24but above the passageway 23. By this arrangement of structural elements,it will be clear that production from zone 14 is closed off by thesealing means 46 and the closed lower end 43 of tubular conduit 42 andproduction from zone 12 may continue up the pipe string 17, but fluidmay be flowed downwardly or upwardly from the zone 13 through thetubular conduit 50, for example, and thence through the passageway 23and up the tubular conduit 42 through the lateral port 47 of the conduit42. As noted, the flow may be downwardly through pipe string 15 andupwardly through pipe string 16 or downwardly through pipe string 16 andupwardly through pipe string 15. v p

When it is desired to rework the upper zone, a tubular conduit 53 ispositioned on the supporting means 20'and sealed in the pipe string 17with sealing means 54 and a tubular conduit 55 is positioned in the pipestring 16 on the supporting means 19 and sealed therein with seal ing,means 56, the tubular conduit 55 being provided with sealing means 57and 58, which seal above and below the passageway 23 and below thepassageway 24, allowing fluid communication with a lateral port 59in thetubular conduit 55. In this mode and arrangement of the apparatus, itwill be clear that production may continue from zone 14 while productionfrom zone 13 is terminated by the closed lower end 60 of the tubularconduit 55. Flow may be had upwardly or downwardly through pipe strings16 and 17, with flow being provided to the zone 12 or removed from thezone 12 as has been indicated, the seals 56 and 57 allowing the flow toproceed through the passageway24 and lateral port 59 through the tubularconduit 55 into the tubing string 16 or in an opposite direction asmaybe desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, an embodiment is provided in which thethree pipe strings15, 16 and 17 are interconnected. Thus, as shown inFIGS. Sand 6, pipe string 15 is connected to pipe string 16 byconnecting means 21 forming passageway 23 and pipe string 16 isconnected to pipe string 17 by connecting means 22 form ing' passageway24. Pipe strings 1S and 17 are also interconnected by connection means70 forming a passageway 71 between pipe'strings 15 and 17. It is to benoted that the three connecting means are vertically spaced apart;however, the connecting means need not be spaced apart vertically. I:Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen that a tubularconduit such as 72 is arranged on a supporting means 73 "above thepassageway 24 and is suitably sealed in-the pipe string 16 by sealingmeans 731;. The tubular conduit 72 is also provided with a sealing means74 arranged above the passageway 23 in which it formsa seal with thewall of pipe string 16 at that point. The tubular conduit'72 is providedwith a third sealing means 75 which seals between'the wall of the pipestring 16 and th'etubular conduit 72 at a point below'the passageway 23.Thus, the tubular conduit 72, in cooperation with seals 73a, 74 and 75,serves to close 011 passageways 23 and 24 and allows fluid to passupwardly Pthrough the pipe string 16'entering the zone 13 through theperforations 34.

In pipe string 17 a tubular conduit 76 is positioned therein 'on' asupporting means 77 and is provided with a seal 78 to seal the wall ofthe pipe string 17,:the -seal 78 'being arranged above the passageway71. Likewise, the tubular-conduit 76 is provided 'with a second seal 79which forms a seal with'the interiorwall of pipe string 17 below thepassageway 71, allowing'fluid tobe pro duced from zone 12 throughperforations 37 upwardly through tubular conduit 76 and pipe string 17to .the earths surface. Production may also be obtained from zone 14through perforations 28, proceeding to the earth's surface through pipestring 15.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a still further modification of the presentinvention will be described. In the modification of FIG. 7 there isshown a casing 11a extending to a position above the uppermost formationor zone 12 and cemented in place by cement 11b. In this modificationonly the lower sections of the pipe strings are ce mented in the wellbore 11. The three eccentrically placed, substantially parallel pipes80, 81 and 82 comprise a bottom end assembly the pipes being properlyaligned and clamped together as desired. The pipes 80, 81, and 82 arecemented in place in the well bore 11 by means of cement 83. It is to benoted that the bottom assembly comprised of pipes 80, 81 and 82 does notextend to the earths surface and cement '83 only extends to a pointsufficient to cement the pipes 80', 81 and 82 in place. In order toachieve the desirable benefits of the present invention, retrievablepipe strings 84, 85 and 86 are run into the well bore 11 and aresealingly engaged with the pipes 80, 81 and 82, the pipe 84 sealinglyengaging with the pipe 80 by means of a seal 87 and with a connectingassembly 88 by means of seal 87a. The pipe string '85 sealingly engageswith the connecting assembly 88 by means of a sealing means 89. The pipestring 86 also sealingly engages with the connecting assembly 88 bymeans of seal 90-. It is to be noted that the assembly 88 is fluidlyconnected to the pipe string 84 by connecting means 91 in assembly 88forming a fluid passageway 92 and has a fluid passageway means 93providing a passageway 94. The connecting means 88 sealingly engageswith the pipe string 81 by means of a seal 95 and with the pipe string82 by means of seal 96.

Thus, with the pipe strings 80, 81 and 82 cemented in the well bore 11by cement 83 and the pipe strings 84, 85 and 86 being run into the wellbore and sealingly engaged with the pipe strings 80, 81 and 82, theadvantage of retrievable pipe strings is provided with retrievable sealassemblies and interconnecting fluid passageways. The connectingassembly 88 may be connected with the pipe string 84, but it is withinthe purview of this invention to provide a separate connecting means 88,as shown, which may be lowered into the well bore 11 and engagesealingly both with the pipe strings 80, 81 and 82 and the pipe strings84, 85 and 86 The seals are preferably carried on an element which isretrievable from the well but may be carried on either of the elements.'Ihus seals 87, 95, and 96 are preferably carried by the connectingassembly 88 while the seals 87a, 89 and 90 are preferably carried by thepipe strings 84, 85, and 86, respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 8, numerals 200, 201, and 202 designate 3substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well. Pipe strings 200and 202 have supporting means such as landing nipples 203 and 204arranged therein. Pipe string 201 has a supporting means arrangedtherein adjacent the supporting means 203 and 204.

The three pipe strings 200, 201, and 202 are fluidly interconnected byconnecting means 205, 206, and 207 arranged at the same level whichprovides a fluid passageway between each pipe string and the other twopipe strings. Shown in pipe string 200 is a ret-rievable tubular conduit208 which is positioned on the supporting means 203 and which isprovided with seals 209 and 210 arranged above and below the conduits205 and 207. Arranged in the pipe string 202 on the supporting means 204is a tubular conduit 211 which has a sealing means 212 arranged abovethe conduits 206 and 207 and a second sealing means 213 arranged belowthe conduits 206 and 207.

In pipe string 201 a supporting means 214, similar to supporting means203 and 204, is provided above the con duits 205 and 206 and is designedto receive a tubular conduit, not shown, such as 208 or 210 with thetubular; conduit carrying seals like the tubular conduits 208 and Theembodiment of FIG. 8 may be employed similarly to the embodiments ofFIGS. 5, 6, and 7. In this particular arrangement where the connectingmeans or conduits 205, 206, and 207 are arranged at the same level, itis possible to dispense with a sealing means on one of the tubularconduits arranged on the supporting means. Thus the three pipe strings200, 201, and 202 may be used as shown for separate hydrocarbonproduction from vertically spaced apart zones. By eliminating thesealing means 213, for example, production may continue through pipestring 200 while workover fluid may be flowed down the pipe string 202and thence upwardly into connecting means 206 and thence through pipestring 201 to the earths surface.

The embodiments of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 may be employed similarly to theembodiments of FIGS. and 1 to 4. The embodiment of FIG. 7 isadvantageous in that plug-back operations may be facilitated by installing landing nipples or supporting means in the lower ends of pipestrings 84, and 86 or in the connecting means. As shown in FIG. 7 atubular conduit member 97 is sealingly supported on support member '98in the pipe string 85 above the passageway 92 and is sealed in theconnecting means 88 by sealing means 99 below the passageway 94 and thepassageway 92 allowing fluid production separately through the pipestrings 80 and 84, 81 and 85, 82 and 86, respectively, from zones .14,13 and 12 through perforations 100, 101 and 102 in the pipe strings 80,81 and 82. The pipe strings 81 and 82, respectively, are suitablyprovided with indexing means 103 and track members 104 and indexingmeans 105 and track member 106 as has been described for the otherembodiment.

Thus, in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 7 and pipe strings 15,16 and 17. This is quite advantageous and useful in that liftingequipment except wire line lifting equipment is not required. It will bemanifest also that the present invention eliminates the employment oftubing strings and a casing in a well bore and requires only the severalpipe strings to allow production from three zones and workover of thethree zones.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completelydescribed and illustrated, what we wish to claim as new and useful andsecure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentricallypositioned substantially parallel pipestrings arranged in a well boreand extending in said wellto the earths surface, means intermediatetheir ends con-. necting each of said pipe strings toanother of saidpipe;

strings and providing a fluid passageway between the pipe strings,supporting means in said pipe strings above the connecting means, atleast one retrievable tubular conduit positioned on the supporting meansin one of the pipe strings in sealing engagement therewith above thecon-.

necting means, said tubular conduit extending in said one pipe stringbelow said connecting means, and means sealing between said tubularconduit and said string below said connecting means.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which three pipe strings arecemented in said well.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which a;

one pipe lower section of each of said three pipe strings penetratingvertically spaced apart hydrocarbon productive zones iscemented in saidwell and an upper section of each of said' three pipe strings isretrievably and sealingly connected to each of said lower sections.

4, Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 provided with a connecting meansforming an intermediate section releasably connected to two of the uppersections and to two of the lower sections and in which sealing means areprovided between the intermediate section and the upper and lowersections, said intermediate section being retrievable from the well.

- 5; Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentricallypositioned substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well boreand extending in said well to the earths surface, means intermediatetheir ends connecting each of said pipe strings to another of said pipestrings and providing a fluid passageway between the pipe strings,supporting means in said pipe strings above the connecting means, atleast one retrievable tubular conduit positioned on the supporting meansin one of the pipe strings in sealing engagement therewith above theconnecting means, said tubular conduit extending in said one pipe stringbelow said connecting means, means sealing between said tubular conduitand said one pipe string below said connecting means, and guide meanstor positioning a tool in each of two of said pipe strings, the guidemeans in said two pipe strings being below the connecting meansconnecting said two pipe strings and being spaced vertically from eachother.

6. Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentricallypositioned substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well boreand extending in said well to the earths surface, first meansintermediate their ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to thesecond of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between thefirst and second pipe strings, second means intermediate the ends of thesecond and third pipe strings spaced vertically from the firstconnecting means connecting the second of said pipe strings to the thirdof said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the secondand third pipe strings, supporting means in said pipe strings above thefirst and second connecting means, at least one retrievable tubularconduit positioned on the supporting means in one of the pipe strings,said tubular conduit extending in said one pipe string below saidconnecting means, and means sealing between said tubular conduit andsaid one pipe string above and below said connecting means.

7. Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentricallypositioned substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well boreand extending in said well to the earths surface, first meansintermediate their ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to thesecond of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between thefirst and second pipe strings, second means intermediate their endsspaced vertically from the first connecting means connecting the secondof said pipe strings to the third of said pipe strings and providing afluid passageway between the second and third pipe strings, supportingmeans in said pipe strings above the first and second connecting means,a first retrievable tubular conduit positioned on the supporting meansin one of the pipe strings in sealing engagement therewith above the connecting means and extending in said one pipe string below saidconnecting means, said one pipe string having fluid passagewaysconnecting to the other pipe strings, said first tubular conduit havinga lateral port fluidly communicating with the first fluid passageway andprovided with a means closing the lower end of said first tubularconduit, means sealing between said first tubular conduit and said onepipe string and isolating said port rforfluid communication with thefirst fluid passageway, and a second retrievable tubular conduitpositioned on the supportingmeans in asealing engagement with a 8 asecond of the pipe strings and extending in said second pipe stringbelow the connecting, means. f

8. Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentricallypositioned substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well boreand extending in said well to the earths surface, first meansintermediate their ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to thesecond of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between thefirst and second pipe strings, second means intermedi.- ate their endsspaced vertically from the first connecting means connecting the secondof said pipe strings to' the third of said pipe strings and providing afluid passageway between the second. and third pipe strings, supportingmeans in said pipe strings above the first and second connecting means,a first retrievable tubular conduit positioned on the supporting meansin one of thepipe strings and extending in said one pipe string belowsaid first connecting means, said first tubular conduit being providedwith means closing said one pipe string and a lateral port fluidlycommunicating with meet the fluid passageways, means sealing betweensaid first tubular conduit and said one pipe string above. and belowsaid first connecting means, a second retrievable tubular conduitpositioned on the supporting means in a second of the pipe strings andextending below the second connecting means, and means sealing betweensaid second tubular conduit and the second of said pipe strings abovesaid second connecting means.

9. Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentricallypositioned substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well boreand extending in said well to the earths surface, first meansintermediate their ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to thesecond of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between thefirst and second pipe strings, second means intermediate their endsspaced vertically from the first connecting means connecting the secondof said pipe strings to the third of said pipe strings and providing afluid passageway between the second and third pipe strings, supportingmeans in said pipe strings above the first and second connecting means,a first retrievable tubular conduit sealingly positioned on thesupporting means in the first of the pipe strings in sealing engagementtherewith above the first connecting means and extending in said firstpipe string below said first connecting means, said first tubularconduit having a closed lower end and a lateral port fluidlycommunicating with the passageway between the second and first pipestrings, a second retrievable tubular conduit positioned on thesupporting means in sealing engagement therewith above the connectingmeans insaid second pipe string and extending in said second pipe stringbelow said connecting means in said second pipe string, first meanssealing between said first tubular conduit and said first pipe stringbelow the first connecting 'r'ncans and second means sealing between thesecond tubular conduit and the second pipe string below the secondconnecting means but above the first connecting meansf l0.'Apparatus forcompleting a well which comprises three eccentrically positionedsubstantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well bore andextending in said wellto the earths surface, first means intermediatetheir ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to the second ofsaid pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between the first andsecond pipe strings, second means intermediate their ends connecting thesecond of said pipe strings to the third of said pipe strings andproviding a fluid passageway between the second and third pipe strings.third means intermediate their ends connecting the first of said pipestrings to the third of said pipe strings and providing a fluidpassageway between the first and third pipe strings, supporting means ineach of said pipe strings above said connecting means, at least oneretrievable tubular conduit sealingly positioned on the supporting meansin one of the pipe strings in'sealing engagement therewith above theconnecting means, said tubular con 9 duit extending in said one pipestring below said connecting means, and means sealing between saidtubular conduit and said one pipe string below said connecting means.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 in which the connecting meansare spaced vertically from each other.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 in which the connecting meansare arranged in the well at the same level.

13. Apparatus for completing a well which comprises three eccentricallypositioned substantially parallel pipe strings arranged in a well boreand extending in said well to the earths surface, first meansintermediate their ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to thesecond of said pipe strings and providing a fluid passageway between thefirst and second pipe strings, second means intermediate their endsspaced vertically from the first connecting means connecting the secondof said pipe strings to the third of said pipe strings and providing afluid passageway between the second and third pipe strings, third meansintermediat their ends connecting the first of said pipe strings to thethird of said pipe strings spaced vertically from the second connectingmeans and providing a fluid passageway between the first and third pipestrings, supporting means in each of said pipe strings above theconnecting means, a first retrievable tubular conduit positioned on thesupporting means in the second of the pipe strings in sealing engagementtherewith above the connecting means between the second and third pipestrings, said first tubular conduit extending in said second pipe stringbelow the connecting means between the first and second and between thesecond and third pipe strings, means sealing between said first tubularconduit and said second pipe string above and below said connectingmeans" between the first and second pipe strings, a second retrievabletubular conduit positioned on the supporting means in the third pipestring in sealing engagement therewith above the connecting meansbetween the first and third pipe strings, said second tubular conduitextending below the connecting means between the first and third pipestrings, and means sealing between said second tubular conduit and saidthird pipe string below said connecting means between the first andthird pipe strings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,760,578 Tausch Aug. 28, 1956 2,785,754 True Mar. 19, 1957 2,844,205Carothers June 22, 1958 2,850,099 Brown Sept. 2, 1958

